Reel and cutter blade for lawn mowers



Jan. 24, 1950 GOLDBERG REEL AND CUTTER BLADE FOR LAWN MOWERS 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1945 Jan. 24, 1950 H. GOLDBERG 2,495,372

REEL AND CUTTER BLADE FOR LAWN MOWERS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QA m.

y 77a /7 Jaw/"regs.

H. GOLDBERG REEL AND CUTTER BLADE FOR LAWN MOWERS Jan. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1945 Patented Jan. 24, 1950 REEL AND CUTTER BLADE FOR LAWN MOWERS Harry Goldberg, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Pioneer 'Gen-E-Motor Corporation, Chicago,

poration of Delaware 111., a cor- Original application August 2, 1945,Serial No. 7 608,396. Divided and this application August 11, 1947, Serial No. 767,927

1 Claim. (01. 5629 1) I The invention relates to an improvement in lawn mower reels and has for one purpose to provide an improved spider for such reels.

Another purpose is to provide an improved and simplified lawn mower reel structure and method of making it.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for making and assembling the cutter knives of the lawn mower reel.

Other purposes will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claim.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 608,396, filed August 2, 1945.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of the reel structure, illustrating the tubular shaft, blades, and spiders;

.Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a variant method of se-. curing the blades to the spiders;

Figure 4 illustrates a detail of the spider to which the blade of Figure 3 is secured;

Figures is an elevation of the blade employed in the form of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the blade shown inFigure Figure 7 is an end portion of the blade employed in the form of Figures 3 and 4; v

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the spiders employed in the form of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the spider structure shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 illustrates a blank from which the spider of Figures 8 and 9 is formed;

Figure 11 illustrates a blank from which blades are formed; and

Figure 12 illustrates the blade as it is cut from the blank.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings I generally indicates any suitable axle or shaft, which may be of solid or tubular stock, but is preferably tubular. The ends of the shaft may be received in any suitable bearing means, not herein shown, in' the lawn mower structure in which the reel is employed.

Spaced along the shaft are a plurality of spiders. Each spider includes a body portion'2 of fiat sheet stock, preferably formed with an upset sleeve 3 having a cylindrical inner surface 4. which conforms closely; to the exterior of the shaft I. the assembling of the reel. The spider may be securedto the shaft by any suitable means, but it is advantageous to position the spiders at the properposition on the shaft and then to weld the sleeve 3 to th exterior of the shaft. Considering the spider blanks as illustrated in Figure 10, they may be punched from any suitable sheet stock .in the form therein shown. The central aperture 5 may be punched either by the same or by a separate operation, part of the metal being upset to form the sleeve 3. It will be understood that a previous punchin operation may, if desired, be employed to provide a hole from which theedge may be upset to form the sleeve 3. The blank is formed with a series of projections having generally radial lead edges 6 con nected by edge portions 1 and 8, 8 being reversed and curved in relation to 'l and terminating in a generally rectilinear edge portion 9 perpendicular to the adjacent radial rectilinear portion 6. It will .be understood that the actual edge contours may be widely varied. After the blankhas been formed as shown in Figure 10 the corners of the arms I0 thus formed may be sheared and bent into a pair of oppositely extending flanges. The metal from which these flanges are formed isindicated as at H, I 2 in Figure 10.. 13 indicates the future shearbetween I I and I2. 14 indicates the future shear between the opposite .side of the blank portion I 2 and the adjacent part of the spiderbody 2. I5 is the line of fold of the two portions of the two future ear, or lug portions 1 I, I2. Their form and position is illustrated for example in Figures 8 and 9. It will be noted that each pair of ears lI-, l2 are not merely oppositely bent from the body] of the spider, but are bent to conform to the desired position of the later added cutting knife.

It wiu' b e 'realized that the blank may be formed by any suitable series of steps, the final result being indicated in Figure 8.

Assum'e'that a series ofspiders are applied to the shaft I, They are arranged in proper. angular relation to align the groups of lugs or ears II, l2 to form a generally helically arranged set of abutments for the later added knives. The apertures 3a may be used as indexing means.

The knives 20 may be of any suitable stock and may for example be cut from strip stock, sheared to" the" correct length. The knives may for example be, cut or, sheared from the sheet stock ene a fl e se =-1t n F ur 4 T e Bet indicate indexing apertures used in blades 20 may be shaped from the edge of the body 30 of strip or sheet stock by any suitable cutoff die or blade, not herein shown, which cuts from the edge of the strip stock a curved blade piece 3|. There issa:minimum of .waste of-ma r, terial and no-wasted material betweenadiacent knife pieces. The curved blade pieces 3| may have their edges cut or sheared off as at 32 by any suitable means or tool, the result being .a blank.v which needs no further cutting or shearing; l Preferably the grain of the metal of the stock' is generally perpendicular to thei-edgeeof-ftheblade, so that the longitudinal stress is mini mized. A cutting edge may be formed by any suitable means, along one edgeiof-itheeknifee Thea knife may be twisted slightly-tozconformlrto-litst desired final form. When so twisted and set, it" takes the form illustrated in the end view of. Figure 6. In that figurerthe knife is illustrated as extending about a helix of about 150 degrees. about *the central shaft I; The -khife rnayfibe twisted or formed by 'anysuitable-means, preferably cold formed,'and is-preferably;set p erma a nently to its desired form or h'eli'x; before beingapplied to-the spiders. By -havingqth'e proper 5 length of blade and the proper radius; and by? spirallytwisting the blade-to a predetermined angle, a proper lead is established for the-fi'nal reelassemblyu The-preformed blade conforms to the helix of the spider lugs to-which the blade g is later'welded or-otherwise securedfi The-spiders are so located on the shaft I that, upon contacting-- th'e-'-curvature of the blade,-a-true lea'd' is -es tabli'shed- The -knife=may be applied-"'to th'e spiders -byany suitable-means. I-find itadvantageous V employya jig, and "to spot 'weld'the knife to-the applopriate lugs H, 12? For" convenience -in' welding, andto provide-metal- -'for thew'eldf it is advantageous to provide the lugs-or ears I I312 40 with offsets ordimples' or projections lid and In. It is also understood that the "knilleS '-"may be secured to the-ears by any suitablemethod or means such as welding;brazing:Oranyother heat' v fusing. It isalsopractic'alto--boltor rivet=the knives in place: Inthatevent-'thefdimples" l id or l2 a-'are omitted and their place takenbyfrivet holes I lb or I2bthrough"whichany'suitablerivets" 25 may-pass. In that event,-as shown'in -Figures rivet holes- '26 to receive the rivets;-

In considering ir'r' somewhat" greater detail" the process followed in assembling gthe spiders on the shaft, assume that the shaft. I is in vertical, position. The lowest spideris positionedfatthegs lo'wer-endof the shaft; forexample *by;any' suitable swing fixtures or'arms, which'hold theloiwest spider at a predetermined position "on; .the shaft.

It may-then or thereafter be welded or otherwise:

securedto the shaft; The next "spider aboveit (mpositionedat a predetermined distance upwardly along the shaft, and-'withapredetermined-'lead'of the correspondinglugs, In: connection with: maintaining the properile'adtheindexapertures V 3a of the spiders may be'employed; orzany; other. suitable indexingmeans; However, each) suc cessive spider applied ;to.:the shaftis "so"rotated:"

in relation to the shaft 'that Qthecorresponding; sets of lugs of the various spi ers continue,the projection of a helix which; when the iinalnum it her of spiders has been applied extends' from end to end of the reel concentrically with" the 'axisT-of; the reel; This :processis continued untili.all of' the spiders "are r in position" and'iarelwelded r' otherwise -fixed to thrshaft. The sets- 0mins 76 are then each in a proper position to receive a spiral blade with a minimum of stress.

The spiral blades, which as above stated are preferably cold formed to substantially their final-cf helix or form, are-e welded i or; otherwise secured to-the proper sets -of lugs. Whereas the total angle described by the helix may vary in dilferent machines, in the particular reel structune hereinv shown, a total angle or lead of -degigees. is employed. However, it will be understood that this angle is a matter of convenience and other angles maybe practical especially with changesinthe length of the blades.

Aftertheblade's'have been welded or otherwise securedttothe lugs, and the entire reel assembly is completed, the edges of the blades can thereafteriiberhardenedi by any suitable means or method. I may for example employ induction hardening. The blades may thereafter be ground to any desired form by any suitable grinding means which do 'not of themselfes form'part'of the present invention;

It will be realized that whereas I have describedand shown= a useful -device, nevertheless many changes -insize, shape,"-number and disposition of parts may be made without departing from the" spirit' ofth'e invention. I therefore wislr-my description and drawings to be takenas in abroadsense illustrative rather than as-limiti-ngmete" my precise showing.

For example it willbeunderstood -that='an y*-' suitable securing means,- not herein described, may beiemployed for securing the spiders "to the-- shaft and for securing the blades or knives to the spiders:

The-use and operation of 'the invention are' asi. follows:

In: forming the lawn mower reel herein described-the following parts are employed-namely:

the shaft, which may be of solid or of-tubular stock, a suitable-number of-one piece spiders,

and a suitable number of knives or blades. The shafts are-cut to proper length from any suitable stock. The spiders are -blanked from any suit able-sheet stock The-following steps may be made in variousorder;

(d) 1 providing a central aperture inthe blank (b) forming a generally cylindricalsleevesur I roundingsaid central aperture 3 and 7 the knifeis also providedwith pairs 0:50-

(c) upsetting the lugs or ears I 4, l2 in opposite" directions (d) perforating-or dimpling th'e lugs: The knives-or blades may advantageously; be cut from strip' stock, either before oriafter'edg ingu Whenout to proper lengththeymay either be initially set or twisted or-mayb'e twistedfinto" proper position during the process of: application to the ears-of-the spiders; the former'being' preferable 4 The assembled parts may be secured'ftogether" in-"various'ways butit is advantageous to-"weld. or braze or otherwise provide a fused connection" between-the spider sleeves 3 andthexshaft ,l fand. between-the-spide'r lugs and H and the knives 20; However, any other'suit'able'securing means may be employed, such as bolting, or rivetingifihe knives to 'the spiders.

Note that by. using a lugon both sides of each lead edge 'of each spider projection, the stressis distributedand in general equalized. Note'also: that the thrust is directly against the.edge' of the spider itself so that the .fiat bodyof .the..spideris, in general perpendicular. to any thrust to which" it 'is subjectedjhe stress beingzdistributedin. the:

--planewz f thespiderr' Thus if "the 'bladeengages" a 5 uncuttable material in the course of the use of the device, there is a minimum tendency to bend the spiders out of their proper planes.

By following the procedure herein described I obtain important savings in production cost while actually increasing the strength, ruggedness and simplicity of the reel assembly.

By permanently preforming the blade I obtain the result that it is not put in strain when it is secured to the spider. In fact, as a variation of my method of assembly I may employ the preformed blade to determine the position of the spiders. In that event it is possible to secure the blade to the spiders without securing the -spiders to the shaft, the spider and blade unit being supplied as a separate assembly which may thereafter at a later time be secured to a shaft. Or as an alternative method I may first secure a single blade to all of the spiders, then thread the spiders on a shaft and secure them to the shaft, and thereafter secure the other blades to the spiders.

Where in the description and claim I employ the term lawn mowers and the like, it will be understood that I wish the material to be interpreted with suflicient breadth to include any cutting or grinding structures in which spiders such as herein shown may be employed.

I claim:

In a cutter reel for lawn mowers and the like, a shaft, a plurality of apertured spiders spaced therealong, each said spider having a plurality of lead projections with generally radial edges. the corresponding projections of the spiders being helically arranged, the lead edges of each projection having a plurality of lugs conforming to saidv helix, extending oppositely from the lead edge of each said projections of each spider, and a helical cutter blade abutting against and secured to the lugs of corresponding lead edges, the outer edges of said blades being sharpened.

HARRY GOLDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

